Green Thing
aerial
Posts: 2,319
I found this on the Net....not sure who wrote it but it IS something to think about.
Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment f or future generations."
She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were truly recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, that we reused for numerous things, most memorable besides household garbage bags, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our schoolbooks. This was to ensure that public property, (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribbling's. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But too bad we didn't do the green thing back then.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throwaway kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-ass young person.
Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment f or future generations."
She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were truly recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, that we reused for numerous things, most memorable besides household garbage bags, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our schoolbooks. This was to ensure that public property, (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribbling's. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But too bad we didn't do the green thing back then.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throwaway kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-ass young person.
“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” Abraham Lincoln
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The home I grew up in was built in the 20s...side of the house had this little if not quaint compartment in which to indicate to the milkman how much butter, milk, eggs were needed. And the empty bottles would be left with the order for re-use.
Our family did many of the things attributed to the older generation: clotheslines (hot topic :P ), few appliances, lots of walking, one TV, and yeah! Using old newspapers for packing shit.
And I have fond memories of those paperbag bookcovers - they were like a canvas to me. Also loved making hand-puppets from those smaller paper bags we used for our school lunches.
By the same token, there's much to be said for now (there are both young and older smartasses)...recyclables/recycling, more energy-efficient appliances, solar power, electronic communication vs using paper, and on.
This part, though - "The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment f or future generations." strikes me as contrived.
So nana and pop-pop can reflect fondly about the good old days, but really what about the low efficient and crappy emissions from what they were using? Cars in the 50's got about 14 mpg, and I have a hunch there wasn't much for emission standards back then. That wood stove is quaint, but no thanks to the smoke and particulates. Hey, and thanks for none of you guys insulating those cool old houses. It seems like with the low standards back then, that per capita environmental damage had to higher than what it is now, but I'm not sure how that could be measured overall. Also, recycled aluminum cans uses less energy than recycled bottles.
It would be interesting to see an energy comparison just for residential ... energy should be down drastically in manufacturing considering there is less manufacturing in the US today than their was in 10-20-30 or 40 years ago and the manufacturing today is far more energy efficient ... at least I would think.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I remember coca-cola in a bottle as a kid ... tasted great on a nice summer evening :P
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I don't run the heat when I'm away, turn off lights, have low-wattage lightbulbs in every lamp, keep my carbon footprint to a minimum.
I don't have a microwave oven, or a hand mixer. I also have a low-volume toilet with a half-flush button, I use my own bags at every store... not just grocery stores. I go out of my way to buy things in bulk with as little packaging as possible.. I recycle everything I possibly can.
I filter my own water, carbonate my own fizzy drinks and flavor those with only fruit juice that I squeeze... often by hand.
I have a car that gets over 30 MPH and ride a motorcycle that gets over 50 when I'm in the city. I usually walk if it's possible (which isn't easy in LA).
So I think I kinda have the right to point out that in the 70s when the Pampers and plastic bottle began to pile up that they just shrugged and said " oh well... not our problem." And left it for us to deal with.
They didn't know about it back then... we do now.
The current generation does not lament how wasteful old folks are, we recognize the destruction that's been done since the invention of plastic and many of us are attempting to curb our use. If you want to blame anyone, blame plastic manufacturers. It's clogging landfills, does not break down and pretty makes everything we use now. There is now enough plastic in the world that as of 2008, all the plastic in the world could wrap around the glob 5 times and that wasn't including the ocean floor. The Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific was found in 1997. http://tinyurl.com/d6oc6y9 These garbage patches are now found in every ocean.
As a society we've gotten MANY inventions of convenience, yes. It's no longer safe for kids to walk alone anywhere anymore, let alone to school. The OP may have been written by an older person, yes, but it's not the same world it was even since the 1990s. Comparing the two in interesting yet it's like comparing apples to oranges. So much changes so fast.
I bring my own bags to the grocery store and have been for years. It's called "I'm not interested in more plastic that just flys in the wind, chokes animals to death and ends up clogging landfills". Luckily, some stores like Target have bins where you can now recycle the bags.
And I simplify a lot, so I don't have tvs in every room, I like to keep things minimal and people call me old-fashioned because I don't care to be materialistic. The older generation did a lot of things right, but they also need to evolve like the rest of us. Like bringing our own bags to the grocery store. That is, if they care.
My dad's an environmentalist and has been picking up trash since the first Earth Day or longer. I've had to teach him a few things about not saving old plastic drinking cups (because they leak chemicals after reusing too many times), he can recycle more than he thought, and more. But he taught me how to conserve in the first place. We need to work together.
For me, the "good old days" go back to the twenties because that is how far back the stories go my father has told me. Though I greatly admire much about the G.I. generation, shit happened back then too.
If you want to go back to the real "green thing", read (as just one example) about the four pre-white Yana Nations of northern California.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
It made me think about all the things that get thrown away just to buy the newer one. Computers , cell phones, Xbox, Nintendo and TVs among other things.
You are exactly right ... today is a throw away society.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Now those things are built to last four years and breakdown so you'll buy a new one.
It's not just the fault of people.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Yeah, it's why I stay away from Facebook, all these viewpoints that are pushing one side and further dividing us, not uniting us. The only thing I would want to pass on is that we're going backwards if we're not working together. And that's across all generations.
My house was built in 1947 and still has the original stove. The only thing that doesn't work on it is the clock.
The throw-away side of things...yeah. And it's sad that's it applied to people - even animals - now too, when they become old or too "bothersome" to look after...in this culture, anyway.
I find the 'energy efficient' dryers to be amusing. You have to run them for three times as long to get clothes dry. I'm wondering if this is truly efficient?
I haven't seen any driers labelled energy efficient. Most suck about 1200 watts. Have you checked your vent, because it might be clogged. Any drier I've used that was 15 years old or newer dries my clothes in 40 minutes or less, on medium or low heat.
...
You know what else old people used to do?
Dump used car oil into the ground, where it went into the ground water... or worse, into rivers or lakes if they were near by or down the stormdrains to fast track it to the rivers and eventually, the oceans. They poured gasoline from the lawn mower there, as well as spent Prestone from their radiator flushes.
They also flushed anything unwanted down the toilet... including any poisons that were left lying around.
They had lead in their gasoline and lead in their paint and lead in their pencils. The air was thick with pollution because they didn't have those awful little emmissions control devices on their engines.
They burned garbage and trash in incinerators... including plastics.
Old car batteries, old tires, all sorts of shit nasty went into the trash cans and off to he dump.
At work, they put fucking asbestos in everything that went into their homes and cars. They dumped industrial solvents into the ground or water systems, including drain pipes. Nasty shit like cadmium, nickel and chromium plating waste.
...
So, please, don't try to lecture me about how good it was in the olden fucking days... because i remember them. I remember the smog alerts and how tough it was to breathe in the Summer while playing baseball in the park. I remember the stinging eyes and shortness of breath after swimming in the pool. It sucked.
So... suck it up you old fucking assholes and quit bitching about how you have to carry a bag to the grocery store so you won't be able to litter the streets with those plastic bags that fly all over the fucking place and end up down on the beach for me to pick up on my Surfriders Beach Clean weekend.
Hail, Hail!!!
I miss when people showed respect toward each other........when people had class and foul language was no so acceptable!!!! I miss when manners and etiquette was cool.......
Ah, the god ol' days of institutionalized racism and sexism and all the respectful comments that went along with it. You got to beat your kids without consequences, too!
Hm... back in the 50s when cops used to raid gay bars, arrest the people inside, publish their names in the paper and destroy them?
And usually beat them to a pulp, too?
Yeah... such lovely respect back then.
Reminds me of my first house! My first house was a post-WW2 house built in 1946 and we bought it in 1997. Apparently there was 2 car motors buried in the yard, construction debris from the original building of the house and tons of garbage buried in the yard. We would have random pieces of garbage that would work its way up out of the ground. Usually glass from an old Coke bottle that cut my dogs feet :(
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...
I AM MINE
So how do you really feel?
As much as there is a huge ringing of truth to this. Sadly with the stuff in computer screens and cell phones and six pack rings and well you know where this might go. Have we really gotten better or just created different messes?
The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08
More and more, this lyric strikes home with me - "progress laced with ramifications"
(perhaps also "for every tool they lend us, a loss of independence")
And why is it that we turn into grumpy old people when we get old?
DDDDDDDDon't you be ppppputting down the old people missy! They have earned their place to get grumpy as the years roll on.
The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08
I think I'm starting to figure it out. It probably has something to do with more and more waking up feeling like you've been run over by a train.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
Man, seems to be some grumpy young people around here. Whatever good points there were in the OP, they seem to have gotten lost in the generational bickering, which sounded kinda contrived anyway. I mean, how would most people react if a grocery cashier talked to them like that? Good points in other posts but lots of kvetching too.
Brian and I seem to be the resident boomers around these parts but EVERY generation has nostalgia. Look at the "children of the 70s and 80s" thread on the AET. I'm nostalgic for lots of things, particularly concert tickets under $10 for a major act. I think life is pretty good and I like my modern conveniences. I just think it's natural to miss some of the things associated with good memories.
I work with older adults every day. I'm employed by Senior Citizen Services. I don't find older people any more or less grumpy than any other group of adults. It takes some adaptability if you want to live a long life and a sense of humor too.